Automatic rifle



l. W. WAGNON.

AUTOMATIC RIFLE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-30,1919.

7 INVENTOR L Wh a'g/m/e.

Patented NOV. 29, 1921.

WITNESSES C EY YAI IWY A TTOR/VEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IRA W. WAGNON, OF CASA GRANDE, ARIZONA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO JOHN F.BROWN, OF CASA GRANDE, ARIZONA.

AUTOMATIC RIFLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 29, 1921.

Application filed September 30, 1919. Serial No. 327,494.

T 0 all 10]: am it may con cern:

Be it known that I, IRA \V. \Vaoxon, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Casa Grande, in the county of Final and State of Arizona,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic recoilsprings are eliminated.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a partial longitudinal section at the magazine;

Fig. 2 is a partial horizontal section;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of a port-ion of the bolt;

Fig. 4 is an end View of the barrel.

The improved gun comprises the usual barrel 1 connected to the frame 2,and this frame carries a compression chamber 3 1n alinement with thebarrel. The bolt 4 has a head 5 at the end remote from the barrel, andthis head moves in the compression chamber, thesaid "head havingcompression rings, as shown.

The other end of the bolt moves in the reamed out breech portion orcartridge chamber 6 of the barrel,'and this end is also rovided withcompression rings as shown.

he said end has a firing pin 7 and a cartridge guard and ejector 8. Thecartridges, indicated at 9, are arranged within a magazine 10 which isdetachably connected with the barrel and frame, and which may bereleased from the barrel and frame by means of a catch 11. Thecartridges are arranged in the magazine in inclined position, beinginclined at an angle of approximately fortyfive degrees, and they are.arranged with the bullet end downward.

A follower 12 engages the cartridgesremote from the bolt 4, and a spring13 is i arranged between the front of the magazine An extractor from themagazine is connected with the bolt, the said device compris ing a pairof arms 14 lltll have catches 15 on their mncr faces not engaging therim of the cartridge in a well known manner, to draw the same out of themagazine and in position to be loaded into the barrel. The bolt 4, thefiring pin and the feeding device 11 constitute an integral structureand the compression in the chamber 3 is such that the bolt will not bedriven rearwardly until the projectile is at the muzzle of the barrel.At this moment the gas pressure will overcome the inertia of the bolt,and willv force the bolt backward far enough to open the chamber topermit the escape ofgas. As soon as the pressure is relaxed thecompression in the chamber 3 will drive the bolt forwardly.

A rod or link 15 is pivoted at one end to the bolt, and the other endpasses through a stuffing box 16 in a cylinder 17 arranged just belowthe compression chamber 3. A piston 18 is connected with the link orrod, the said piston having compression rings, and the piston moves inthe cylinder 17. This cylinder 17 and piston 18 constitute a doubleacting pump, which supplies air for cooling the barrel.

It will be noticed, referring to Figs. 1 andthe barrel, the said vanesbeing of relatively' great width and placed relatively close. tubularmember encircles the vanes at the peripheral edges thereof, and thus aseries of chambers is provided, extending longitudinally of the barrelfrom the breech to the muzzle.

The pump 17-18 delivers to these chambers through the collar 20 which isa distributing collar. The chamber communicates with the collar by meansof a pipe 21, and the pipe has openings near the ends of the cylinder.The cylinder has also a suitable check controlled inlet 21.

The rifle is armed by means of a charging handle 22 connected with thebolt and extending laterally through the frame. The bolt is held incharging position by means of a trigger pawl 23 which engages a catch 24on the bolt when the bolt is drawn rearw'ardly far enough to be behindthe trigger pawl. The trigger pawl is connected to the trigger 24 bymeans of a link 25 and a spring 26 cooperates with the trigger and Thelink is fulcrurned on a bracket 27in the frame 3.

The rearmost cartridge in the magazine is grasped by the arms 14 and isdrawn rearwardly by the bolt when the rifle is charged. The cartridgerides upon the inclined end of a carrier 28 which is arranged within theframe in rear of the magazine. This carrier is normally pressed upwardby a spring 29 and is held downward by the piston rod 15, when the boltis in forward position. When the bolt is drawn rearwardly into chargingposition and the catch 24 is engaged With the pawl 23, the carrier, assoon as the bolt has moved behind the same, will lift the cartridgeupwardly, and the said cartridge will be centered in position to enterthe chamber 6 by means of a detent 30 just above the carrier.

\Vhen the trigger is operated to release the pawl, the compressed air inthe chamber, 3 will move the bolt forwardly, and the cartridge carriedby the carrier will be driven into the chamber 6. The pin 8 is springmounted to yield} under a predetermined pressure. This spring is strongenough to move the cartridge ahead of the firing pin, so that the firingpin does not engage the primer until the cartridge has been seated inthe cartridge chamber and cannot be moved farther by the spring pressedpin.. The pin now yields and the firing pin enters the primer,detona-ting the cartridge. When the trigger is held down, that is, withthe pawl in re leased position, the rifiewill fire continuously, beingoperated by the recoil.

I claim:

1. In combination, in an automatic rifle, a barrel having a compressionchamber in alinement therewith, a bolt having a plunger working in thecompression chamber and a portion extending into the barrel when inoperative position and sealing the same, means controlled by themovement of the bolt for feeding cartridges in succession to the barrel,said bolt having a firing pin rigid therewith, and a spring heldcartridge guard extending beyond the firing pin for insuring theinsertion of a cartridge before the firing pin engages the same.

2. In combination in an automatic rifle, a barrel, a' magazine below thebarrel, a bolt moved in one direction by the recoil, a compressiondevice for returning the bolt, said bolt having means for withdrawing acartridge from the magazine, means cooperating therewith for moving thecartridge into alinement with the barrel, and a spring supportedcartridge engaging pin on the bolt for moving the cartridge in thebarrel in advance of the firing pin.

IRA W. WAGNON.

.Witnesses:

A. J. BRUNT, EMOGENE THOMAS.

